A gentleman wrote me to ask if I had tablature for the mandolin part I played for Big Sciota on the Morning Glory Waltz LP. I sketched out this chart of the first chorus for him. This portion of the tune can all be played in first position. The second chorus (not notated here) goes…
Sally Ann
The Hill Billies (aka Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters) recorded Sally Ann at their first-ever recording date, a January 1925 session for the OKeh label. They would re-record the the following year for release on Brunswick and Vocalion. Though this performance is in C major, Sally Ann is often played in other keys, more commonly…
East Tennessee Blues
This transcription is based on a performance of East Tennessee Blues recorded by the dual-monikered group Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters/ The Hill Billies. It was recorded in New York City on October 21st, 1926, and released as Vocalion # 5016 (credited to The Hill Billies) and Brunswick # 103 (credited to Al Hopkins…
Texas Gals
The Hill Billies, aka Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters, recorded Texas Gals at an October 22nd, 1926, session in New York City. It was released as Vocalion # 5021, paired with Goin’ Down the Road Feeling Bad. Texas Gals is a three-part tune in C major. The middle strain is very similar to the second strain of Billy…
Mississippi Sawyer
The Hill Billies (aka Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters) recorded Mississippi Sawyer at their second recording session, an April 30th, 1926, date for Vocalion. The recording features four Hopkinses: Elmer, Al, Joe, and John. The band would never again realize such a Hopkins density. Tony Russell’s Country Music Records lists 13 recordings of Mississippi Sawyer made before…
Waynesburgh
Fiddlin’ Doc Roberts recorded Waynesburgh at an August 26th, 1927, session in Richmond, Indiana. His recording is the only recording of this tune under this title to be released before 1942. It was released as Gennett # 6257, as well as on the Gennett-affiliated labels Champion (# 15549, credited to Fiddlin’ Jim Burke), Silvertone (# 5078…
Sleeping Lula
The Carver Boys recorded Sleeping Lula at what was, regrettably, their only recording date — a September 6th, 1929, session in Richmond, Indiana. It was released on the Paramount label as #3233, as well as on Broadway and ARC-Broadway (credited to the Cramer Boys). The tune is a fairly straightforward rag in C, with a motive that…
Johnson Boys
This transcription is based on a performance by Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters, recorded in New York City on May 14th, 1927. It was released as Brunswick # 179. Al Hopkins and His Buckle Busters were the same group as The Hill Billies. The group’s releases on Vocalion were credited to The Hill Billies,…
L and N Rag
This transcription is based on a performance Alex Hood and His Railroad Boys recorded at their only recording date, an April 8th, 1930, Knoxville session that produced two sides. A transcription of L and N Rag appeared in my book, but there are three significant issues with that transcription: It is in the wrong key Several phrases are transcribed…
Arkansas Traveler
This transcription is based on an August 26, 1927, performance in Richmond, Indiana, by Fiddlin’ Doc Roberts. Arkansas Traveler (aka Arkansaw Traveler, Arkansas Traveller, Arkansaw Traveller) is among the first fiddle tunes to be recorded, and remains a standard in the repertoire. Tony Russell’s Country Music Records lists over twenty different recordings on the tune under various…